Separator



C. L. SUTTON Dec. 30, 1930.

SEPARATOR Filed Feb. 11, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR C/ar neLfiuffa/v a ATTORNEY SEPARATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb.

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Patented Deca 30, 1930 UNITED STATES CLARENCE L. SUTTON, OF TULSA,OKLAHOMA sErARAroR Application filed February 11, 1928. Serial No.253,653.

' My invention relates to separators and more particularly to a deviceof that character for separating the oil and gas delivered together froman oil well under natural or L artificial pressure or by mechanicalpumping; the principal object of the invention being to effectuallyseparate the gas and liquid components of the product of the well sothat the liquid petroleum may be run to storage and the relatively drygas delivered directly to service lines or through compressors forrecovery of gasoline content.

In accomplishing this object I have provided improved details ofstructure, the pre- 1t ferred forms of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an exterior perspective view of a separator containing myimprovements, in cluding conventional equipment.

2o Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the separator tank,illustrating the details of construction constituting my invention.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a crosssection on the line 4.4,

Fig. 2. I

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 55 Fig. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a tank, of conventional form and dimensions, equipped withthe usual diametrically opposite intake fittings 2-2 at about itsvertical center, one of which is shown closed by a plug 3 and the otherconnected with a supply line 4 which may lead from a well and isequipped with a flow controlling gate valve 5. 7

Leading from a fitting 6 near the bottom of the tank is an oil line 7,equipped with a valve indicated by the housing 8. which is automaticallycontrolled throughlinkage 9 by float mechanism 10, indicated by thehousing 11, having communication with the tank through upper and lowerfittings 12 and 13 5 and a pipe 14, whereby the line 7 is opened andclosed to permit flow from the tank when the tank has filled to thelevel of the outlet fitting 12. 15 designates asight gauge on the float'housinglthrough which level of liquid in the tank may be observed, 16 asafety blow-oft valve and 17 a, pressure gauge at the top of the tank;18 a vent opening. in the top of the tank, normally closed by a screwplug 19, 20 a manhole in the side of the tank, 21 a ladder providingaccess to the. topof the tank, and 22 a drain line leading from a sump23 011 the dished bottom 24 of the tank (Fig.- 2). All of the abovepartsare of usual constructionand, forming no part of my invention, arementioned only. for better understanding of my improvements, which Iwill now describe. h 'Welded' or otherwise securely attached to theinner face of the body of the tankin close relationto said body and inspaced rela: tion toeach other, are a number of bafile rings 25,inclined downwardly to-respective central. drain apertures 26, theouter,"upper rim of the lowest ring being above the upper float controlfitting 12 and said ring being braced'by brackets 27 on the tank walljfor a purpose presently apparent. 1

Suspended on brackets 28 on the upper portion of the tank wall is abowl-shaped trap 29 of substantially less diameter than the interiordiameter of the tank to permit free passage of gas between the rim ofthe trap and wall of the tank into'the dome of the. tank. a 1 I VExtending through the side wall near the so bottom of the tank is afitting, indicated by the pipe sect-ion30, and'connectedwithsaid fittingand extending upwardly at the center of the tank centrally through thedrain apertures 26 of the'bafile rings 25 and through 8 the bottom ofthe trap 29 is a'line 31 through which gas collected in the dome of thetank is forced to the flow line 3201 the branchinglocal supply'line 33.The line 31 is of substantially less diameter than the apertures '90 26topermit iree'drainage ofliquid downwardly through the apertures andupward flow of gas therethrough, the line terminating slightly above thebottom of the trap and the latter being provided with drain apertures 34in a circular series about the line.

Welded, or otherwise secured to the line 31, between the rings 25 aredownwardly and outwardly inclined baflle cones 35 which terminate inspaced relation to the wall of the tank to effect drainage of liquidonto the bafiles 25 and rise of gas in a tortuous path through and aboutthe respective bafiles of the oppositely arranged sets.

Connected with each of the supply fittings 22' is a nozzle 36-S6 whichextends downwardly over the lowermost bafile cone 35 and terminates in adownwardly directed beveled mouth at the side of the tank opposite itsentry thereto, so that fluid is delivered from the nozzles or either ofthem onto the lowermost ring 25 to flow through the central drainaperture of said ring into the, bottom of the tank.

Assuming the tank to. be constructed and assembled as described, oil andentrained gas delivered from the well is discharged from the nozzles3636 or either of them, into the tank above the lower ring 25, the oiland gas separating when released to the zone of greater area in thetank, the liquid all flowing down the battle 25 into the bottom of thetank and the gas issuing in the tortuous path about and through thebaliles indicated by the arrows (.Fig. 2). \Vhen the gas first separatesfrom the oil it is highly saturated but gives up the moisture as itrises, the precipitated oil collecting on and flowing back over therespective baffles to the bottom of the tank, the gas finally reachingthe dome of the tank in substantially dry condition and from there beingforced by its own pressure down the line 31 to outletlin the flow line32. Any moisture reaching the trap 29 is drained back through theapertures for flow back with the liquid accumulated on the lowerbaffles.

WV-hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A separator of the character described comprising a tank having a closedtop, a series of bafile rings having outer peripheries sealed to thewall of the tank and inner peripheries forming an axial passage in thetank for restricting flow of fluid over said inner peripheries, a trapat the top of the tank spaced from the wall thereof, a gas outlet pipein said passage spaced from the inner peripheries of the rings andhaving a gas inlet and extended into, the trap, said pipe having anoutlet adjacent the lower end of the tank, and an inlet nozzle for mixedoil and gasarranged to discharge adjacent the outer periphery of thelowermost of said baffle rings.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

CLARENCE L. SUTTON.

